Dr Amy Proctor and Michelle Black reflect on how they embedded interdisciplinary problem-based learning into the design of a new module in SNES to help students explore sustainability challenges, develop a broad understanding of the SDGs and develop collaborative experiences and essential skills for future careers.
Dr Cristina Navarro Reguero and Dr Matthew Hopkinson designed CHEMmunicate, a fun team game where students draw chemical structures by asking yes/no questions—boosting communication skills and reinforcing organic chemistry knowledge.
Dr Amy Proctor and Dr Beth Clark designed a problem-based learning session for students of Sustainability in Practice – a new shared module for Agriculture, Earth and Environment, and Applied Social Sciences Cluster (AESSC) students. In this session, students will use AI tools to generate solutions to food insecurity, and evaluate them critically.
As part of the Agriculture, Earth and Environment, and Applied Social Sciences Cluster (AESSC) Curriculum Redesign Project within SNES, we have developed virtual tours of NU Farms using H5P. These virtual tours provide an immersive experience during Open Days, familiarise students and colleagues with the farms prior to field trips, and enrich fieldwork activities.
Dr Catherine Douglas (staff: she/her) and Manjot Brar (student intern: she/her) from the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, discuss the development of an innovative ice-breaking board game to enable students to discuss effective strategies for addressing common group working issues, and learn about the value of feedback. Students were integral to the design of the game which was funded to address requests for support in preparing for groupwork. This extremely successful pilot initiative will continue to be used and can be loaned out to anyone interested in reviewing the game and trialing with their students.
Students from our University took part in a successful online event with students at the Indian Institute of Technology in Delhi (IITD) to share ideas around environmental sustainability.
With Dr Cees van der Land, Dr Sanem Acikalin & Dr Mark Ireland Newcastle University School of Natural and Earth Sciences Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering What did you do? For our Earth Science students we developed a range of VFTs during which they learn to analyse and map the rock strata. We used Read more about Bringing the rocks into your house, virtual fieldtrips (VFT)[…]
The School of Natural and Environmental Sciences have utilised the Sustainable Development Goals as a platform to develop students’ global awareness and essential graduate attributes. Find out more from Dr Sara Marsham.
The aim of the Your Future module was to enhance students’ awareness of roles that they could go into; enhance their employability for their ideal roles through reflecting on, and developing, their skills; and also enhance their resourcefulness. Hear more from Dr Catherine Douglas.
Colleagues in SNES are using ThingLink to create 360 degree virtual environments to replace traditional fieldwork activities. Feedback so far has been excellent with high levels of synchronous and non-synchronous student engagement. Read on to find out more…